Fresh Cherry Cheesecake Ice-Cream Bars
These Fresh Cherry Cheesecake Ice-Cream Bars are a creamy, fruity, no-bake summer treat with a crunchy graham cracker crust — perfect for hot days!
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh cherries pitted and halved
- 1 cup cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
Prepare the Cherry Mixture
- Wash, pit, and halve the fresh cherries. In a medium bowl, toss the cherries with 1/4 cup of the sugar to macerate them. Set aside.
Make the Graham Cracker Crust
- In another bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, melted unsalted butter, salt, and remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Mix well until crumbs look like wet sand.
- Press mixture firmly into the bottom of a lined 8x8-inch pan to form an even crust layer. Compact tightly with the back of a spoon or flat-bottomed glass.
- Place the crust in the freezer for at least 15 minutes to set.
Prepare the Cheesecake Filling
- Beat softened cream cheese with a mixer until smooth. Gradually add remaining sugar, then vanilla extract, and beat until combined.
- In a separate chilled bowl, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture until fully incorporated.
Assemble the Bars
- Remove crust from freezer. Pour half of cheesecake filling over crust and spread evenly.
- Spoon half of the macerated cherries over filling evenly.
- Add remaining cheesecake filling on top and smooth it out.
- Add remaining cherries on top, gently pressing them into the surface.
Freeze
- Cover pan with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and freeze for at least 6 hours or overnight to set completely.
Serve
- Remove bars from pan using parchment paper. Cut into squares or bars. Let sit 5 minutes at room temperature before serving to soften slightly. Enjoy immediately!
Equipment
- Medium Bowl
- Small Bowl
- Hand Mixer
- Stand mixer
- 8x8-inch pan
- Plastic Wrap
- Spoon or flat-bottomed glass
Notes
- Ensure cream cheese is fully softened to avoid lumps in the filling.
- Macerating cherries enhances their sweetness and juiciness for better flavor.
- Press crust firmly to prevent crumbling when cutting the bars.
- Fold whipped cream gently to keep the filling light and airy.
- Freeze bars at least 6 hours for a firm, ice-cream-like texture.